1716
The Spanish Council of War approves a site on the San Antonio River for a fortified presidio. The Domingo Ramon expedition, accompanied by the trader St. Denis from Louisiana (who had come to the site two years previously), established a presidio on the river at what is now San Pedro Park. This same council also approves the request by Father Olivares to establish a mission near the site.

1896
The Gonzales Telephone company made connection with San Antonio today, over the wires of the Southwestern Telephone and Telegraph company. The event was celebrated at the Telephone Exchange on Travis street. Guests were invited to attach themselves to several receivers and transmitters and when this was done the Seguin office was called and the charming operator there, Miss Kate Zorn, daughter of the mayor, was heard singing “Sweet Bunch of Daisies” as though she was close at hand.

1918 – World War I
James F. Atkins of Hubbard City, Texas, a flying cadet taking training at Kelly Field, is in the base hospital at Fort Sam Houston, suffering from injuries received in an airplane accident which occurred on the Pleasanton road Monday afternoon. The cause of the accident is given in the report issued by the flying department, Kelly Field, as a tail spin from a height of 500 feet.

1900
Should the German-American citizens throw out their vote solid in one direction, their influence will be felt in the next county and city elections.

1918 – World War I
Miss Katherine Stinson, aviatrix, did not start her mail-carrying flight from Chicago to New York today, although the weather was ideal. It was said that she was piqued because, against her wishes, public announcement was made of the hour at which she was to have started.

2004
In Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals, Derek Fisher of the Lakers gets the ball with 0.4 seconds on the clock and nails a jump shot to defeat the Spurs, 74-73. The Spurs had rallied from 16 points down with 3:59 left in the third quarter. They had seemingly escaped with an improbable victory after Tim Duncan sank an 18-footer with 0.4 seconds left.

1918 – World War I
National Park, advertised as “Wholesome Fun for Wholesome People” holds its grand opening tonight at the corner of West Houston and Laredo streets. The park will feature “The Largest Hawaiian Village in the South” with native singers and dancers.

1918 – World War I
One of the captive observation balloons at Camp John H. Wise, four miles north of downtown, snapped the cable connecting it with the automobile truck, designed to control it, at noon today and shot skyward, bearing the two cadet officers who were in the basket. Almost instantly, it was lost to the clouds and no trace of it was seen until it landed at Pflugerville, near Austin, three hours later.

1918
The governor today issued a proclamation officially designating next Sunday, May 13, as “Mother’s Day” in Texas. The people are urged to observe this day in a proper manner. “May I not suggest that an acute, tangible reminder of our remembrance of our mothers be given to her upon this happy day, in the form of a gift, or a visit or a long letter?” says the governor in his proclamation. A pure white flower should be worn on this day.

1966
“Tower of the Americas”, the name suggested by Rosa Gonzalez of Corpus Christi, is chosen as the official name of the 622-foot tall HemisFair tower. Ms. Gonzalez won a three-day expenses-paid stay at the Menger Hotel for herself and her immediate family, a $100 savings bond and a season pass to HemisFair. The names chosen as runners-up were: Hemispire, Hemistower, Astroshaft, Astrospire, Astrotower, Stratospire, Spire of the Americas and Tower of Peace.

1723
The King of Spain issues a royal cedula ordering that 400 families be transported from the Canary Islands for the purpose of establishing a civilian settlement in the vicinity of the Presidio de Bejar.

1918 – World War I
Police Judge M. E. Buckley issues a warning to San Antonians saying, “I have decided to impose a severe penalty against those persons who are making it habit to get drunk at bars just beyond the dry zone and returning to San Antonio to celebrate the occasion.” The warning is issued because the speed and recklessness of the automobile drivers endangers themselves and others on the road.

1926Erection of a memorial monument to George W. Brackenridge has been proposed to the mayor by local citizens.

1918 – World War I
Two court-martial verdicts of more than usual interest were announced at Camp Travis yesterday, one of which resulted in the discharge of an officer and the other the sentence to prison of a recruit for ten years.

1925
A tornado sweeps Stinson Field doing $75,000 damage to planes and hangars.

1942
San Antonio’s test of two types of air-raid siren today gave citizens their first taste of what it may be like if enemy planes approach the city. The sirens tested were of five and two horsepower.

1881The Right Reverend J.C. Neraz (right) was consecrated second bishop of San Antonio.

1918 – World War I
Arrangement have been made for the use of Market Hall as an armory for the Second Texas cavalry, now being organized. Four of the troops are to be recruited here. These are Troops A, B, C and D, and they will use the armory on different nights.

1932
Mass meetings will be held by local Communists on May 16 at a N. Center St. address, and on May 17 on the West Side. The party proposed to bring about the dole system as a remedy for unemployment.

1849Gen. William Jenkins Worth, veteran of the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, dies of cholera in San Antonio. Fort Worth was named for him on November 14, 1849.

1918 – World War I
A central fire house is being erected at Kelly Field, near post headquarters, just off the Frio City road. Two small fire houses are also being erected as a part of the plan to put the Field on the fire protection basis that applies to a city the size of the field.

2011
The Mission branch of the San Antonio Library, in the location of the Mission Drive-In theater, holds its grand opening.

1884
The Grenet Alamo property is sold for $40,200 to Hugo & Schmeltzer.

1889The Hugo & Schmeltzer property on Alamo Plaza is condemned by City Council.

1918 – World War IProminently placed in the Carnegie Library is an exhibit arranged by the food administration, which has engaged the attention of everyone coming into the library. A delicately browned muffin, made of corn and rice flour is shown under a glass cover, while in small glass jars are samples of corn, rice, yellow corn, potatoes and cottonseed flours. Conservation recipes collected by the United States food administration have been printed in book form and are available on the lending list of the library’s books.

1884The Maverick Bank building (right), at the corner of Alamo Plaza and Houston Street, is begun.

1918 – World War I
The appropriation of more than $300,000 for purchase of 17,000 acres of land adjoining the Leon Springs reservation and reaching to within seven miles of San Antonio, was approved by the House Military Affairs Committee yesterday according to news dispatches from Washington.

1983
President Reagan comes to San Antonio a brief two hour visit, during which he gives a 10-minute speech at La Villita, saying, “Cinco de Mayo reminds us of the love of liberty found on both sides of the border, and in this love of liberty, you, who are Americans of Mexican descent, link our two peoples.” Afterwards, Reagan attends a private reception with the City Council and invited guests.

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 1 – 1:45pm Low impact workouts are a great way to get active while reducing the risk of injury! Low Impact Circuit Training classes are easier on the body removing certain exercises that place more stress on the hip & knee joints; running/sprinting and jumping. The goal of each class is to provide a total body workout. Branch Loca […]

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 3:30 – 5pm [For ages 13 to 18 only] Come hang out to cure your boredom and make new friends (or see your old ones). Weekly activities vary, and it's up to you to help decide what we do.Join us as we play your pick from a variety of different video games! Branch Location: Tobin Library Address: 4134 Harry Wurzbach, San Antonio, TX […]

Thursday, May 24, 2018, 4 – 5pm Need help downloading eBooks to your tablet or phone? Sign up for a 30 minute one on-one-session and library staff will assist you in learning how to use your mobile device, tablet, or new laptop in conjunction with downloading digital content from SAPL such as eBooks, eAudiobooks, and movies. Bring your device and account inf […]